RALEIGH, N.C. (828newsNOW) — North Carolina drivers should start seeing some relief at the gas pump as the state’s 41-cent-per-gallon gas tax suspension takes effect. Attorney General Jeff Jackson wants to make sure those savings actually reach drivers.
Jackson announced Tuesday, Oct. 13, that his office is launching N.C. Fuel Check, a program that will monitor gas prices and allow drivers to report stations they believe aren’t passing along the tax savings.
He also sent letters to major gas retailers and distributors reminding them that state law requires them to pass the savings on to customers.
“If gas stations see their costs drop by 41 cents per gallon but don’t pass that along to drivers, that’s a massive windfall for these companies instead of relief for families,” Jackson said. “My job is to make sure the savings reach the families.”
The temporary tax suspension took effect Saturday, Oct. 10, and runs through Nov. 30. The General Assembly approved the measure last week, and Gov. Josh Stein signed it into law.
But drivers shouldn’t expect prices to fall by 41 cents overnight — or necessarily see that exact amount reflected in the price at the pump.
Gas stations pay the tax when they receive fuel deliveries, meaning some are still selling gasoline purchased before the suspension took effect. The law takes that into account.
According to Jackson’s office, most stations should receive new deliveries within about a week, allowing the tax savings to begin showing up at the pump.
Even then, other factors affecting fuel prices could make it difficult for drivers to determine exactly how much they’re saving.
Questions about how much of the tax cut would reach consumers surfaced when lawmakers approved the suspension. Although the law requires retailers to pass along their tax savings, changes in wholesale fuel costs and other pricing factors could affect what drivers ultimately pay.
To help enforce the law, the N.C. Department of Justice will review publicly available gas price data, looking for stations whose prices remain unusually high compared with nearby competitors.
A higher price alone doesn’t necessarily mean a station is violating the law, but it could prompt a closer look.
Drivers who suspect a station isn’t passing along the savings can also file a complaint through N.C. Fuel Check.
The department is asking drivers to provide the station’s name and address, the date and time of their visit, the price per gallon and the grade of fuel. Photos of the station’s price sign and a receipt can also help, along with prices at nearby stations and an explanation of why the driver believes the station isn’t complying with the law.
Complaints can be submitted at ncdoj.gov/ncfuelcheck or by calling 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.
The temporary tax suspension applies to both gasoline and diesel fuel and remains in effect through Nov. 30.